Machine for applying bands, stamps or the like to packets



MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, STAMPS, OR THE LIKE TO PACKETS J. MASON April 18, 1933.

1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27 I INVEN4TOR J. MASON STAMPS, OR THE LIKE TO PACKETS April 18, 1933.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS,

Filed Oct. 27. l931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, STAMPS OR THE LIKE TO PACKETS April 18, 1933.

Filed 001;. 27 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT o- FIcE JAMES MASON, OF DEPTFORD, LONDON, ENGLAND MACHINE FOR APPLYING BA ns, s'rnmrs on. THE LIKE TO PACKETS Application filed October 27, 1931,.Seria1No. 571,430, and in Great Britain NovemberG, 1930.

This invention relates to machines for applying bands, stamps or the like to packets, and has for its object the provision of a machine wherein bands or stamps may be afiixed to the packets in such a manner that they are located thereon in a definite position with relation to an end or face thereof.

Other objects of the invention consistof improved means whereby the band or stamp may be arranged to completely encircle the packet, and if desired, form the means of securing the closure flap of a packet.

The invention consists of a machine for comprising means for removing a band from a pile, and applying adhesive thereto, means for exactly locating one edge of the band relatively to an edge of the packet, and means fo applying the band to the packet.

Further, the invention comprises a machine of the kind set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein means are provided for controlling the closure flap of a packet sothat the flap may be secured by the band or stamp without displacement of the same.

The invention also comprises sundry detail improvements in machines for applying bands or stamps, including means for bowing the band transversely of its length to stiffen the same, and tucking mechanism for folding the ends of the band beneath the packet so that the band completely encircles the packet.

For convenience in describing and claiming the invention the member which is applied to the packet is referred to as a band, it being understood that the term is sufficiently broad to cover any member which it is desired to secure to the packet by adhesive regardless of its shape, for instance a stamp, a label, or an elongated strip. 7

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1' is a front elevation, partly in section, of a machine for applying bands or stamps to packets. V

Fig. 2 is a side ele'vationofFig. 1 in the direction of the arrow A.

Fig. 3 is a detail of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of a stamp.

applying bands, stamps or the-like to packets of the magazine by the two'rollers.

Fig. 5 shows a cigarette stamp applied thereto.

Fig. 6 is a detail of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrow "B. 155

Fig. 8 shows a detail of a modification to the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the bands 1 are stacked in a magazine 2 from which they are removed one at a time by anoscillating 560 sucker 3 which pulls the leading edge of the lowermost V band on to a continuously rotating suction wheel 4.

A small oscillating roller 5 is operated to move into'contact with the upper surface of the band as the same lies upon the suction wheel hand the band is thereafter fed out The leading edge of the band is carried by the packet with a V first suction roller 4 into contactwith 'another suction roller 6 rotating in the opposite direction, and a cut-off valve (notshown) in v the suction system causes the suction to cease in the roller 4 as it commences in the roller 6 so that the band passes on to the rim of the roller 6 and is retained by the suction.

As the suction roller 6 rotates, the band contacts with a roller 7 rotating in a gum bath 8, and two streaks of gum are applied near the'edges of the band 1 as indicated by 43 dotted lines in Fig. 4E.

The band next passes between a pair of rollers 9 and 10 which feed it in a horizontal direction. It is stripped from the suction drum 6 by a guidell, the suction ceasing at the point where the band is to be removed. The pair of feeding rollers previously mentioned comprise an upper roller 9 having a rim of convex section, and a lower roller 10 with a rim of concave section.

As the band passes between these rollers it is bowed transversely of its length so that itbecomes comparatively rigid lengthwise,

and it is thereafter fed on to two herizontal member has a downwardly extending projection 17 at the end thereof which projects downwardly across the edge of the band. Each clamping member is operated by a cam 18 through lever 19 pivoted at 20 and the movement is such that immediatelybefore a band is clamped, the band is positively aligned by the projections 17 moving against the side of the band and moved into a position which ensures exact registration wit-l the edge of the packet.

Referring to Fig. 2, the packets 21 are stacked in a vertical magazine 22 with their broad sides horizontal, and are removed therefrom by a reciprocating pusher 23 which preferably has two pusher faces 24 and 25 disposed one behind the other at a suitable interval, and which operate to bring the packet to the position where the stamp is applied in the following manner The pusher 23 is carried on a lever 26 pivoted at 27 which is oscillated about its pivot by a connecting rod 28 attached to a crank disc 29. The edge of the crank disc 29 is in the form of a cam which lifts alink 30 connected to another point of the pusher 23.

As the pusher 23 moves forwardly, the front pusher face 24 moves a previously ejected packet so that one end comes into contact with the frame 31 and is located thereby beneath the horizontal band, whilst the rear pusher face 25 simultaneously removes the next packet from the bottom of the magazinc, and places it in position to be engaged by the front pusher face on the next stroke of the plunger. The cam on disc 29 is so shaped that the leading packet remains pressed against the frame 31 until the packet is moved upwards as described later.

On the return stroke the pusher 23 drops beneath the bed of the machine owing to the shape of the cam 29 so as to avoid the packets awaiting the next stroke.

/ The leading packet is pushed on to a platform 32 which is caused to reciprocate vertically by a cam 33 and lever 34, and on the up stroke of the platform the packet is pushed against the stamp which is held taut by the clamping device previously mentioned. The packet is pushed up into a. vertical stacker 35 by the reciprocating platform and the band is folded down the sides of the packet by the sides of the stacker during the motion, being drawn through the clamps which may be slightly released for this purse, p When it is desired to afiix the band so that portions are fold-ed around the bottom of the packet the tucking mechanism about to be described is provided. Two fingers 36 pivoted at 37 and operated by cam 38 are arranged to move into the magazine to support the packet as the platform moves downwards again, and at the same time two tuckers 39 pivoted at 40 and operated by cam 41 fold the projecting ends of the band beneath the bottom of the packet, one tucker operating slightly in advance of the other.

In order to ensure that the stamp shall be wrapped around the underside of the packet without displacement, the tuckers 39 are preferably provided with pivoted guides 42, see Figs. 6 and 7.

The guides 42 are pivoted at 43 and consist of channel shaped members which embrace the tuckers 39. The guides 42 arenormally pressed upwards by springs 44 sothat as the tuckers 39 move inwards, the portions of the stamp which hang downwardly lie in the channels as the tuckers move, and after the tops of the guides 42 touch the underneath of the packet the springs 44 bend and permit the guides 42 to take up the position shown in Fig. 1, and the tuckers 39 slide in contact with the. ends of the'stamp and press them firmlyon to the bottom of the packet.

The packet is thereafter moved upwardly through the. stacker 35 by the succeeding packets, and as the packets-reach the top of the stacker they are swung'through and delivered to a horizontal trough for more convenient removal.

As shown in Fig. 1, the mechanism for effecting this movement consists of a. pusher 45 carried on guides 46 and reciprocated by a crank disc 47 through the connecting rod 'inthe various stages indicated by chain lines in Fig. 1, the movement being assisted by the friction of the delivery channel.

If desired, the stacker may be heated in order to facilitate the drying of the gum.

When it is desired to utilize the stamp to seal a packet having a closure flap as indicated at 50, Fig. 5,-the packets are fed to the stamp applying position with the closure flap 50 upwards, and immediately before the reciprocating table 32 rises, a swinging arm 51, Fig. 8, is arranged to press the closure flap 50 firmly on to the face of the packet and this arm is held in position by spring 52 until the packet meets the band when a. projection .53 on the platform 32 lifts the arm out of engagement with the flap and leaves the packet and band free to rise between the sides of the magazine which fold the hand downwardly about the packet.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for applying bands to packets the combination with a support for bands having spaced band engaging portions, means for delivering a band to said support, said means including a device for bowing the band transversely of the longer dimension thereof to render the band self-supporting, and means for lifting the band fro-m the support and contacting the same with a packet;

2. In a machine for securing bands to packets by adhesive, the combination with means for supporting a pile of bands, of means for withdrawing a band from the pile and delivering the same to a position adjacent means for withdrawing a band from the pile and delivering the same to a position adjacent a packet, separate means movable to engage the band thus positioned to align one edge of the band with one edge of the packet, and means for effecting relative movement of the aligned band andpacket to contact the same.

4. In a machine for securing bands to packets by adhesive, the combination with means for supporting a pile of bands, of means for withdrawing a band'from the pile and delivering the same to a position adjacent a packet, said last named means including a device forbowing the band transversely of the longer dimension tostiffen the same, separate means movable to engage the band thus positioned to align the latter with the packet, and means for effecting relative movement of the aligned band and packet to contact the same.

5. In a machine for applying bands to packets by adhesive, the combination with a magazine for packets, of a fixed means defining a plane, means for withdrawing a packet from said magazine and feeding the same into a position in which one wall of the packet contacts with said fixed means, a conveyor for feeding a band to a position adjacent said fixed means and facing said packet, means for engaging the band thus positioned to contact one edge of the same with said fixed means, whereby one edge of the band and one wall of the packet are aligned in the plane defined by said fixed means, and means for thereafter moving said band and packet V edge of the band to accurately position the same on the support.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a band support on which a paper band may be deposited, said support being so formed as to contact with the band over a length of the band materially less than the entire length thereof, and means for delivering a band on the support, said means including a device for bowing the band transversely of the length thereof to stiffen the same.

8. In a machine for applying bands to packets of the type provided with a closure flap, the combination with means for supporting a pile of bands, of means for withdrawing a band from the pile and delivering the same to a position adjacent a packet, separate means movable to engage the band thus positioned to align the latter with the packet, means movable to engage and retain the closure flap against thepocket, and means for effecting relative movement of the aligned packet and band to press the latter against the closure flap while the latter is retained against. the packet.

9. In a machinefor applying bands to packets, the combination with means for contacting an adhesive coated band with three sides of a packet, and a device acting thereafter to press the band against the fourth side of the packet, said device including yieldinglycontrolled means for guiding the band transversely of the length thereof during the pressing operation to ensure accurate align ment of the band on the packet. 10. In a machine for applying bands to packets, the combination with means for contacting an adhesive coated band with three sides of a'packet, and a device acting thereafter to press the band against the fourth side of the packet, said device including a presser member for engaging the face of the band, and means carried with said member" for contacting the edges of the band to align the latter, said means being movable with respect to said member in the direction of movement of the latter, and yielding means for urging said last named means toward the packet.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

7 JAMES MASON. 

